Semaphore-operating mechanism.



No. 654,85l. Patented July 3|,- I900.

J. SHOECRA FT.

SEMAPHDRE OPERATING MECHANISM.

' (Applicatibfiflled Oct. 10, 1599.

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UNITED. STATES JUDSON SHOECRA-FT, or ESKRIDGE,

knnsnsnssienon TO CHARLES o.

GARDINER, or BRADFORD, KANSAS.

SEMAP'HORE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

"SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 654,851, dated JulyE31,'190

Application filed October 10,1899. Serial No- 7as,21o. (No model.) i

To all when). it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J UDSON SHoFicRAFr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Esk ridge, in the county of Wabaunsee and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Semaphore-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically-oper ated railvvay signals, and more particularly to [0 that class known as semaphore-signals, the object of the invention being to provide a block-signal-operatiug mechanism in which the semaphore will be set at danger when the track is obstructed or when the. mechanism may be out oforder. In mechanism of this class it is highly important that the semaphore may indicate the condition of the apparatus as well as of the track, and in the present construction if the circuit which op- 29 crates the semaphore retracting motor ,is broken the semaphore will be returned to the danger position; otherwise the" mechanism might become inoperative when the semaphore is partially withdrawn and any subse- 2 5 quent closure of the track would not be indicated.

In the drawings forming a portion of this invention, and in which similar numerals of reference designate like and corresponding 0 parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a block protected by a system of apparatus involving this invention. Fig. 2'is a side elevation of the semaphore-operating mechanism, showing its attachment to the semaphore-post and illustrating the positions of the parts when the semaphore is raised to the danger position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the positions of the parts when the semaphore is lowered and the mechanism is ready who dropped to raise the-semaphore. Fig. 1 is a side view of Fig. 2 looking to the right. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View showing the split nut and its locking mechanism.

Referrin g now to the drawings, the system involves a plurality of duplicate semaphoreoperating mechanism in combination with sources of electricity and means for closing so the circuit of the several elements of the mechanism. This semaphoreoperatingmech anis m is connected directly with the semaphore-post 10 andconsists of abase-plate 1], upon which is mounted a frame 12, having a central perforation, vertically of which is passed a screw-threadedshaft 13 of an electric motor 14, located below the base 11 and held in proper position upon the semaphore post. This shaft '13 may constitute the armature-shaft of the motor, or, if preferred, may have suitable hearings in the base 11 and in a diamagnetic plate 15, secured to the motor, and may have mounted" thereon beneath the base 11 the gear-wheels 16, meshing with the pinion 17 upon thearmatureshaft, as shown. Thus as the armature of the motor rotates the shaft 13 will be rotated, and from the rotation of this shaft the semaphore mounted upon the post 10 is lowered;

is disposed a rod 18, the upper end of which has a link connection 19 with a lever 20, fulcrumed upon the post 10, and from the work end of which extends a connecting-rod 21, pivoted at its upper endto the semaphore 22 of. This semaphore is of the usual construction and need not be described. The lower end of the rod 18 enters the inclosure of the frame 12, and has mounted thereon a block 25, on opposite sides of which are secured the upper ends'of hangers 26'Iand 27, of which the hanger 27 is fixed and is of spring ma terial and the hanger 26 is pivotally connected. To the lower end of the hanger 27 is secured a seotion 28 ofatransversely-split nut, the perforation ofwhichis vertically disposed, the oppo'site section 29 being fixed to the lower end of 'thehanger 26. The perforation of the split nut, and which is formed partiallyin each of the nut-sections, is threaded to'receive the threads of the shaft l3, whereby when a nut is in a closed position the rotation of the shaft 13 throughthe medium of the armature of the motonl l; will act to feed the nut longitudinally of the shaft and move the semaphore 22 on its pivot. In this construction it is intended that the rotation of the screw-shaft 13 will be in a di- In the top of the frame 12 is a slot in which between its fulcrum and theouter end there- 7 .the opposite ends of the nut-section 28 plates] portions of said plates.

the shaft 13,.and normally the pivotal connection of the hanger 26 will permit its n utsection to swing freely,-and thus to be swung outwardly and from engagement with the shaft 13 when the nutdescends. In order to hold the parts of the nut together to cause them to grip the shaft 13, there is secured to 31 and 32, which inclose the nut-section 29 and between which the nut-section 29 is adapted .for swinging movement.v The plates 31 and 32 extend beyond the outer face of the,

section 29 and of the hanger 26, and a shaft 33 is journaled in bearings in the protruding this shaft is flattened, as shown at 34, and in this flattened portion and in the direction of the minor thickness thereof is formed a slot 35, for a purpose which will be presently explained. WVhen the shaft 33 is moved to cause its flattened portion to lie parallel with the hanger 26, a wedge 36, passed between this flattened portion a'nd the hanger 26, will act to move the nut-section 29 in the direction of p the section 28, and thus close the sections upon theshaft 13, or if the nut-sections are lying in engagement with theshaft the insertion of the-wedge will prevent their disengagement. The slot 35 is of such a depth that when the shaft 33 is turned to hold the slot in the direction of the hanger 26 there will be a sufficient space between the outer surface. of the wedge 36 and the base of the slot 35 to permit the movement of the nut section 29 outwardly toa sufficient extent to draw its threads from engagement with the threads of the shaft 13.

In order to oscillate the shaft 33 to cause it to assume the position just described, an electromagnet 37 is mounted upon the block 25 and has an armature 38, fixed at one end to the shaft 33, the electromagnet being adapted to hold said armature in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and in which the slot 35 is moved from cooperation with the wedge 36, and at which time the wedge will engage the body of the shaft 33 to hold the nut sectionstogether. In order to hold the wedge 36 in this position and to initially move it into such position, a second electromagnet 39 ismounted upon the block '35 and has an armature 40, pivoted to the plate 31, and the laterally-turned end of which is passedthrough a slot 41 in the enlarged upper end of the wedge 36. Thus when the armature- One end portion of pointer is attracted it will move the wedge 36 downwardly and into engagement with the shaft 33 and the hanger 26. The electroma nets 37 and 39 are connected in series mutually and with the motor 14, and thus if the motorrbe energized the nut-sections will be.

closed upon the shaft 13 and the shaft will be rotated to elevate the block 25 and the the binding-posts 44 and 45, mounted upon a bracket 46 upon the outer side of the frame 12. 'Pivoted to the side ofthe frame 12-is a lever 44, one end of which lies upon the springstrip 43 and the other end of which is bent rearwardlyaround the edge of the frame 12 and into the path of upward movement of the shaft 33 as it is moved with the slip nut. Thus when the mechanism has been raised to the limit of its upward movement the circuit is broken, when the motor stops and the magnets 37 and 39 are denergized and drop their armatures to release the nut-sections. It is of course necessary that this nut-operating mechanism be held in an elevated position to hold the semaphorelowered and that when the track is obstructed the nut mechanism be released to drop and raise the semaphore-arm. Inorder'to hold this nut-operating mechanism in its elevated position, an electromagnet 48 is mounted upon the plate 15 and is provided with an armature 49, connected with. an arc-shaped lever 50, which is fulcrumed to a bracket 51, mounted upon the inner face of the frame 12; The-end of the lever 50 opposite to the armature 49 is bent laterally to form a normally-horizontal foot 52, which when the magnet 48 is energized is held in the path of positioned that it will arrest the fall of the nut mechanism before it has moved sufficiently far to raise the semaphore-arm, and in order to maintain the operating-circuit of the motor and magnets 37 and 39 open the spring contact-plate 43 is extended inwardly and through aslot in the side of the frame 12, as show-n at 53. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, when the nut mechanism is resting upon the foot 52the armature 38 is in its released position, and upon reference to Fig.- 5 of the drawings it, will be seen that this positionof the armature holds the shaft 33 with the flattened portion lying horizontal, which acts to project the edge of the flattenedportion to an extent sufiicient to engage its edge with the inwardly-extending tip orend of the plate 43, and thus to hold said plate out of contact with the point 42. If the circuit of the motor and its connected magnets be maintained open IIO and the circuit of the magnet 48 be opened, the armature 49 willbe released and the nut mechanism will press the foot 52 downwardly and rearwardly and will pass from the foot to its lowered position (shown in Fig.2) and raise the semaphore. In other words, it is only necessary to provide a relay or other mechanism to open the circuits just described when the track is obstructed to indicate such obstruction. When the nut mechanism drops to the position shown in Fig. 2, the armature 38,which has previously rested upon the plate 11, is swung upwardly and into the field of its magnet, so that when its magnet is energized the armature will be moved to operate the shaft 33 in the manner above described. When the nut mechanism drops, it has been found expedient to positively move the sections together, so that the armatures 38 and will have only to overcome the friction of their connected parts to rotate the shaft 33 and insert the wedge 36, and to accomplish this result a beveled block 55 is mounted upon the base of the frame 12 and in such a position that the nut-section 28 will strike it and be moved into engagement with the screwshaft 13. The hanger26 being pivotally hung, it will swing to en gageits nut-section 29 under the influence of gravity. The parts will thus be in their proper positions tolower the semaphore-arm and set the mechanism as soon as the several circuits are again closed.

In order to open the circuits of the motor 14 and the magnet 48 when the block governed thereby is occupied, a relay has the terminals of its magnet 61 connected with the rails 62 and 63 of the block through the medium of conductors 64 and 65. Connected also with the rails 62 and 63 are the terminals of an electric battery 66, through the medium of conductors 67 and 68. Thus so long as the rails 62 and 63 are unoccupied the current of the battery 66 will act to energize the relay, and as soon as a train comes upon the rails 62 and 63 the battery 66 will be shortcircuited through the wheels and axles of the train and the relay will be denergized. This relay operates two levers 69 and 70, one of which dips into a mercury-cup 71 and the other into the mercury-cup 72. In the drawings there are shown two semaphores and their operating mechanisms, the magnets 48 being connected in series through a common battery 74, and the motors 14 with their magnets 37 and 39 being connected in multiple through a battery 73. Thus when the relay 60 is energized the levers 69 and 70 will dip into the mercury-cups 71 and 72 and all of the circuits will be closed, and when the hat tery 66 is short-circuited the remaining circuits will be broken, and if the mechanism be then in the position shown in Fig. 3 it will drop to the position shown in Fig. 2 to set the semaphore.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The mechanism being in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the block occupied and the semaphore raised, when the train passes from the block the current of the battery 66 will flow through the magnet of the relay and the levers 69 and will be dipped into the mercury-cups 71 and 7 2. Themotors and magnets will then be energized from their respective batteries and the split nut and the parts carried thereby will ascend, the nutsections being drawn inwardly and into engagement with the screw-shaft 13, so that they will not strike the foot 52, which lies in its projected position. When the mechanism reaches its upper limit of motion, it strikes the lever 44 and moves the plate 43 from the point 42 to break the circuit of the motor and the magnets 37 and 39. The nut and its mechanism then descend, as the movement ofthe armature releases the nut-locking mechanism and permits the nut-sections to move from the shaft 13. The foot 52beingprojected, the nut-section 29 strikes upon it and the nut mechanism is held supported. In its descent the shaft 33 also strikes the inner end of the plate43 and holds the motor- If a train then comes upon the,

circuit open. rails 62 and 63, the battery 66 is short-circuited, the magnet 65 of the relay releases the levers 69 and 70, and they swing out of the mercury-cups 71 and 72 and break the circuits of the semaphore mechanisms, when. the foot 52 is released and the nut mechan ism drops and raises the semaphore.

It will of course be understood that any desired form of two-point relay may be em ployed, and for this reason it has not been found necessary to show the relay in detail.

What is claimed is- V 1. The combination with a semaphore,,of a follower connected therewith and comprising two separable parts movable toward and away from each other, electrically-operated means in the path of movement of the parts of the follower for engagement by the parts of the follower, said electrically operated means being adapted to move the follower and to move the semaphore in one direction,

electrically-operated means for locking the parts of the follower to the moving means and for releasing the parts of the follower from the moving means for subsequently breaking IIO a plurality of separate parts, said follower having a definite path ofmovement, electrically-operated means for moving the follower in one direction to the limit of its movement,

electrically-operated means for moving the partsof the follower into engagement with its moving means,electrically-operated means for releasing the parts of the follower from its moving means at said limitof movement, means in the path of the return movement of the follower for engagement thereby to break thecircuit of the moving means, means for supporting the follower to hold the circuit broken, electrically-operated means for rev leasing the follower to permit its movement,

means for simultaneously closing the circuit of the moving means, and means for subsequently throwing the parts of the follower into operative relation with the moving means.

3. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuit including said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, a separable follower adapted to move alternately with and independen tlyof the screw shaft, electrically-operated means for closing j,

shaft, electricallyeoperated means for closing the follower upon the screw-shaft, means for releasing the follower from the shaft, connections between the follower and the semaphore, and a circuit-breaker for breaking the circuit of the motor and the follower-operati n g means, said circuit breaker being adapted for operation by engagement of the follower.

4. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuit including said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, a separable follower adapted to move al ternately with and independently of the screwthe follower upon the screw-shaft, said means being in the circuit of the motor, connections between the follower and the semaphore, a

, circuit-breaker forbreakin g the motor-circuitand the circuit of the follower-closing means, said circuit-breaker beingadapted for operation by engagement with the follower.

5. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuit including said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, a separable follower adapted to move alternately with and independently of the screwshaft, means for holding the parts of the follower normally separated and free from the screw-shaft, electrically-operated means for closing the follower upon the screw-shaft and for holdingit in operative relation to the screw-shaft, said means being in the circuit of the motor, and a circuit-breaker forbreaking said circuit. v

6. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rofollower for engagement thereby to open the circuit of the closing and holding means and for initially opening the motor-circuit, means in the path of free movement of the follower for engagement of the follower to Stb'sa' quently open the motor-circuit, means for holding the follower to maintain said circuit at a different point open, and means for releasing the follower to permit closing of the circuit.

7. The combination with a semaphore, of an electricm'otor, a circuit including said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, a split nut adapted to move alter nately free of and with the shaft, means for engaging the nut with the shaft, means for holding the nut in engagement with the shaft, means for releasing the nut with respect to the shaft, and connections between the nut and semaphore.

8. In a semaphore operating mechanism, a block, connections between the block and a semaphore, hangers carried by the block, nutsect-ions carried by the hangers, ascrew-shaft adapted for engagement'by the nut-sections, means for rotating the shaft, means for moving the nut-sections into engagement with the shaft, and electrically-operated means for holding the nutsections in engagement with the shaft 9. In' a semaphore-operating mechanism, the combination with a screw shaft, and means for rotating it, of a block, connections between the block and semaphore, hangers connected with the block, a nut-section connected with each hanger, means for moving the nut-sections into engagement with the shaft; a cam-shaft adjacent a nut-section, a wedge adapted for insertion between the cam of the cam-shaft and the adjacent nut-section to hold the nut-section in engagement with the screw-shaft, an armature connected with the cam-shaft for moving it into and out of operative relation to the adjacent nut-section, an armature connected with the wedge for moving it into and out of its operative position, and an electromagnet for each armature.

10., In a semaphore-operating mechanism, the combination with a shaft and means for operating it, of a follower having connections with a semaphore and adapted for movement into and out of operative relation to the shaft, a cam-shaft adjacent the follower, a

wedge adapted for insertion between the cam-shaft and the follower, to hold the follower in operative relation with the firstnamed shaft, an armature connected with the cam-shaft for moving its cam into and out of operative position, an armature connected with the wedge for moving it into and out of operative position, and an electromagn'et foreach armature.

I ll. The combination with a follower adapted for connection with a semaphore, of means for moving the follower, said follower being movable'into and out of operative relation to its moving means, a cam adjacent the follower, a wedge adapted forinsertion betweenthe cam and the follower to hold the follower ICC in operative relation to its moving means, an In testimony that I claim the foregoing as armature operativeiy connected with the cam my own I have hereto affixed my signature in for moving it into and out of operative posithe presence of two witnesses.

tion, an armature connected with the wedge JUDSON SHOEORAFT. 5 for moving it into and out of operative p0si- Witnesses: I

tion, and an eiectromagnet for each arma- J. ROSS GOLHOUN,

ture. M. PERRY HAHN. 

